Paul van Dyk Interview

While we're working on bringing you the latest news from Ibiza 2017, please enjoy some of our classic interviews from the Love Ibiza archive.

August 2, 2011

This Thursday is Cream’s Ibiza Birthday party and to celebrate, we thought we’d bring you our exclusive chat with resident DJ and international superstar Paul van Dyk.

I was very excited to be given the opportunity to speak with one of the world’s greatest DJs, Paul van Dyke (or PVD if you prefer), but also rather nervous! This nervous energy was soon dispelled when I got talking with him though because, as you would imagine, he is a very friendly and genuine guy who has a clear passion for music.

We got talking about all things Cream Ibiza where PVD is, of course, a main room resident. He told us to expect many great things for this year, including “lot of new music and special sneak previews from the new album”. PVD knows how to please a crowd and has promised to play some classics too, “I think Ibiza is always about Ibiza anthems and I think people should expect some of these as well”. We asked who PVD is looking forward to sharing the decks with at Cream and he favoured Giuseppe Ottaviani, “he’s just a really nice guy who can just really connect with the audience and it’s always really special when that happens”. So, lots of things in store for you avid Cream goers this year!

Describing Ibiza as “beautiful” PVD went on to explain that the White Isle’s international approach is what makes it so special and unique, “there are a lot of people that see me in America or in the UK, or Germany, or Australia, or anywhere in the world, but in Amnesia at Cream they all see me together in one room and it’s a very different experience because people aren’t in their normal home environments. They are out, on holiday, having a good time and that gives the night a special element”.

PVD spoke very highly of Amnesia, confirming it as being “the best club in Ibiza” and thinks Cream is a dream event because of how global the brand is, “ I have my following from all over the world and people from different backgrounds and religions all come together in this one place and have a good time together”. Its clear PVD enjoys playing to a crowd that is united by his music, “I’ve had so many occasions where people meet together when they wouldn’t usually, for example Lebanese people mixing with the Israeli people. In a way, that was Thursday night [at Cream] and they represent what electronic music is all about, bringing people together”.

We wanted to know more about what motivates PVD to carry on producing music at such a high level and he put it simply, “I am a musician and this is what drives me”. His passion for music is such that he doesn’t rely on feeling motivated, “I’m a freak when it comes down to music and that is motivation enough”. I’m pretty sure this inspiring attitude has something to do with Paul van Dyk’s notable success, and is something to admire if you ask me!

Of course, PVD’s music has developed over the years into what he prefers to call “electronic” music, which incorporates a range of genres to create his own distinctive ‘PVD Style’, “my music does have trance elements but it also has elements of techno, electro and even drum & bass and house”. It’s certainly a style that has seen him win many awards, including the World’s Number One DJ on more than one occasion. Graciously, PVD played down the emphasis of such awards, “all these lists and comparisons, it doesn’t really work because it’s kind of comparing apples with oranges and then trying to analyse them to see what tastes better”. Instead he placed importance on his ability to connect with his own audience, “obviously being honoured with awards and things like that is a great thing but it’s not what’s driving me and whenever I have received an award it doesn’t really change my approach towards what I do”.

So what’s up next for PVD besides his residency at Cream Ibiza? Well, there’s the rest of the Evolution Tour to get through, which takes him all over the world, including the likes of Romania to Switzerland and New York! But more exciting perhaps, is the release of his new album later on this year that’s apparently going very well indeed, “people who are close to me, like my friends and family, have said it’s the best album I’ve ever done”. We certainly cannot wait, and PVD fans should listen out for some tracks from the new album during PVD’s sets at Cream, “whenever I play something from the album, people don’t know it’s my track and they go completely bonkers and this is something you like to achieve as a musician – just being able to instantly connect with a good track”.

Well, it’s been a pleasure speaking with you PVD and we’re looking forward to listening to the new album when it’s released later this year!